Southern Weddings

You knew there’d be more pink perfection after those first images from Shaley + Javier’s Texas nuptials, right?  Bella Flora of Dallas gave Shaley’s fun color scheme theme a sophisticated boost with feminine bouquets of antique ivory and blush pink roses and elegant centerpieces of roses and lush hydrangeas in tall, gold-stemmed vases, and the champagne-flavored four-tiered confection with pearl and floral details from Jackie Spratt Cakes was the perfect vintage touch.  Now would be a good time to blow lots of thank-you kisses to photographer Stephanie Fay.  Happy October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, y’all!

Describe your wedding flowers:  Fluttery pink and ivory roses accented with lush hydrangeas.
Describe your wedding cake:  I loved the vintage feel of our cake! We had a four-tiered champagne delight flavored cake with Chambord filling and real buttercream icing.  It was accented with piped texture, sugar rosettes and silver dragets and topped with two white lovebirds in a silver-frosted nest.
Funniest moment?  At the final rehearsal at the church, my father and I were about to walk down the isle when Javier’s grandmother (who had been missing for the past hour), appeared at the door and walked down the isle during my wedding march.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day?  After being announced as a couple, we danced to our high school song, “Hero” by Enrique Iglesias.
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding?  Stay organized and true to your vision! I had a huge notebook — turquoise, of course — with pages I had collected from magazines that I used as my guide whenever I went to all my vendors.  It’s also super important to keep busy until the last couple days before the wedding then just relax and let everything fall into place.
What’s next for you as a couple?  We’re going on a two-week honeymoon in Hawaii and then settling into our new house in Dallas. 

Congratulations Shaley + Javier!  Have an amazing time in Hawaii!

Today, I’m in pink Southern heaven thanks to the lovely Stephanie Fay! Shaley + Javier’s Dallas, Texas wedding (planned and designed by Sharon Coston) was pretty, polished and pink, pink, pink!  (Perfect timing, considering October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pink is the signature color.)  While I love the traditional and sweetly Southern chapel where the couple exchanged their vows on the SMU campus and the ultra-elegant details of the newlyweds’ white-tie reception at the Hotel Crescent Court, my very favorite thing about this Texas affair is the darling shot of the bride in her bejeweled Kenneth Pool gown and her cotton-candied attendants in yummy blue and bubblegum pink Jim Hjelm dresses.  (We’re huge fans of brides who alternate the style and color of their maids’ dresses to honor special family members, like little sisters!)  Of course, we can’t not mention the Carrie Bradshaw-worthy pink Kate Spade’s the bride snuck underneath her princess gown.  See what I mean?  Pink. Heaven.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  Javier and I met on my first day of sophomore year at Saint Mary’s Hall high school.  We were in the same Western Civilization class and we soon became friends. Towards the end of sophomore year, Javier and I hung out at a friend’s pool. After jumping in the pool, we fought for a spot in the hammock. This was the first time we were alone together all year long and we instantly connected! At the start of junior year, I started finding single roses in my locker. A few weeks later we had our friends over for my 17th birthday party.  Javier stole the show with his karaoke skills! Afterwards, Javier took me to our swing in the backyard so he could give me a birthday present.  After I opened my present (bracelets!), he said that wasn’t my entire gift and then he asked me out!  We were officially dating!
Describe the proposal:  Though Javier had wanted a more extravagant proposal in La Patagonia, Argentina, Javier’s health problems prevented the trip from happening. Instead, we headed off to sunny Miami, Florida. The trip started off in style, complete with a limousine that gave us the perfect view of downtown Miami as we crossed the bridge into Key Biscayne where our hotel was located. That night, after a candlelit, ocean-side dinner, Javier and I walked out to the hotel’s hammock. Since hammocks hold a special place in our relationship , this was the perfect place to start a new stage in our lives. After gazing at the stars together for a few minutes, Javier got out of the hammock, hit on one knee and asked me to be his wife. It was perfect!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  Summer hues (including my favorite color, turquoise) and light fabrics to help beat the heat.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress:  I had narrowed it down to two dresses and then my mom emailed me a photo of a gown by one of my favorite designers and I knew I had to try it!  My dress was my favorite design element of the day, plus I loved how it was named “Grace.”
The weather on our wedding day was: Sunny and hot, hot, hot!
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? One of the biggest challenges we had was including elements from both of our cultures. Javier walked his mom down the isle and his dad walked my mom down the isle, as is done in Mexico.  Javier’s sister also sang an amazing rendition of Ave Maria and we had a mariachi band playing during the cocktail hour.
Three adjectives that describe the day are:  Perfect. That’s it! 

Check back soon for Part II of Shaley + Javier’s whimsical wedding!